Warby Parker was created to be an alternative to the overpriced and bland eyewear that's been a staple of the industry for decades. The four founders all met as students at The Wharton School in Philadelphia, where in between classes they traveled the globe and tried to figure out ways to do business differently while making a positive impact on the world.

Almost 1 billion people worldwide lack access to glasses, according to the company. This means that 15 percent of the global population cannot effectively learn or work—a problem that Warby Parker set out to address. They figured out that the eyewear industry is controlled by a few large companies that keep prices for prescription frames and lenses artificially high.

By circumventing traditional channels and selling vintage-inspired eyeglasses and sunglasses to customers directly through their website and select showrooms, Warby Parker is able to offer high-quality eyewear starting at around $95, a far cry from the $250 to $300 charged at most major retail chains. The company, whose name was inspired by a pair of Jack Kerouac characters, also believes in giving back: For each pair of glasses sold, it distributes a pair to someone in need.

How did you come up with your big idea?

"We both had frustrating experiences buying eyeglasses, so we decided to offer an alternative to the overpriced, uninspiring eyewear on the market."-David Gilboa, co-founder and co-CEO

Warby Parker disrupts eyeglass market

Neil Blumenthal, Warby Parker co-founder & co-CEO, discusses his plans to disrupt the eyewear market by using web and mobile as a way to engage with customers.